YOKOHAMA, Japan — Jan. 29, 2013 — Sigma Corporation of America a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world’s most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, today announced the release of four new lenses for the ART product line, including three lenses for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras and one lens for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors. This announcement comes at the start of the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show 2013 this week in Yokohama, Japan.

The new and updated Sigma lenses include the 30mm F1.4 DC HSM, which will be available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts.

30mm F1.4 DC HSM
Sigma pioneered the large-aperture, APS-C format, standard lens category with its 30mm F1.4 lens in 2005. With new optical configurations of nine elements in eight groups, as well as rounded aperture blades, this updated lens delivers pleasing sharpness and a beautiful bokeh background. Its angle of view is equivalent to 45mm on a 35mm camera (which is similar to that of human vision), its minimum focusing distance is 11.8 inches and its maximum magnification ratio is 1:6.8. The lens’ optimized power distribution helps to minimize field curvature, prevent a loss of image quality at the edges of photographs and produce outstanding image quality. Its double-aspheric lens minimizes spherical distortion, astigmatism and coma, and its rear focus system prevents focus-dependent variation in aberration. Together, the new optimized auto focus (AF) algorithm and rear focusing system ensure smooth and accurate focusing. The new 30mm F1.4 is also compatible with Sigma’s new USB Dock, which will enable firmware updates and focusing adjustments, is expected to be available in coming months.

Excellent, with the expectation of a lower cost than their FF release last year yet still much of the quality, i really hope this may breath life into my APS-s body. for a good field of view and low light performance. Finally perhaps something worth replacing my nifty 50 with.

This and their 50mm are lenses where the USB dock is gonna be crucial; they have a history of being a bit of a "lottery" to get one that works nicely with your camera (especially if you don't have AFMA), but having a dock that allows adjustment might just be what makes that lottery go away.

I just purchased a sigma 30/1.4 before Christmas. I haven't found many chances to use it yet but it's been great so far. I can't see that I'd need the dock, but if I ended up with another new sigma lens, who knows, maybe I'd think about replacing with the new model.

But if people are wanting to move to ff or aps-h, the canon 28mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.4 might be a better option.

However, with this being an aps-c consumer lens, I presume we will see a cheap price tag.

The 28mm f/1.8 retails at $509, the Sigma (currently) retails at $489. So, at worst they'll cost about the same retail wise, but, more likely since the Sigma is newer, you'll see the 28mm being cheaper in street price for a while.

I think the 28mm's problem is it's an odd place to be. If you are buying it in the hopes of moving to full-frame later, 28mm isn't exactly the best focal length (compared to 24mm or 35mm). And if you don't plan on moving, then why not spend the same amount and get f/1.4 instead of f/1.8. It's where Canon is missing out by not having EF-S primes in the way that Nikon does.

Someone needs to start a SigmaRumors site so I can rant about them being slow to offer more FF lenses in the Art line. An APS-C and three for mirrorless! How dare they! I have & love the new 35, and am waiting with bated breath (whatever that means) for a 24 and an 85. I guess I'll just have to bitch here for now...